by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

TAMPA -- The corner locker on the outside wall, which formally housed the richest player in the game, had nothing more than dozens of hangers and no nameplate.

The locker belonging to the greatest closer in baseball history was now occupied uncomfortably by Masahiro Tanaka, the New York Yankees' newest and greatest superstar.

The most renowned locker in the clubhouse still had the uniform and nameplate up for his final season, but the occupant won't walk into that clubhouse door until Wednesday, when he formally addresses his retirement.

It was the first day of the New York Yankees' spring training camp, but this one, was like no other.

There was no Alex Rodriguez, banned for the season, forfeiting his $25 million salary.

No Mariano Rivera, retired with 652 saves, the most in baseball history.

No Andy Pettitte, whose locker is now occupied by reliever Shawn Kelley.

No Robinson Cano, who fled to Seattle for $240 million, with non-roster second baseman Scott Sizemore now wearing his number.

And, after these next six weeks, for the final spring training of his famed career, no Derek Jeter.

It's a new Yankee world, and Friday morning, the Yankees gathered together on the day pitchers and catchers reported, and talked about it.

It has changed so much that the Yankees' projecting opening-day lineup could feature eight new starting players than a year ago, with Jeter and first baseman Mark Teixeira rturning from injuries.

"It's the biggest transition I've ever been through,'' Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It's important that I know these guys. I need to know all of the new faces very quickly.''

And, as Giardi says, the entire clubhouse team will look even dramatically different in a year without the face of the franchise: Jeter.

"I'm not really surprised,'' Sabathia says of Jeter's pending retirement, "saddened, I guess, that he is not going to be around. You want a guy like that to play forever. I'm just happy I got the chance to play with him.''

Yankees new catcher Brian McCann, already being anointed the face of the Yankees once Jeter retires, says he's honored to at least play one year with the man.

And yes, the same day he left Atlanta and signed his five-year, $85 million contract, the man on the other end of the cell phone was none other than Jeter.

Welcome to New York.

"I'm happy for him, the guy has done everything in the game of baseball that you can possibly do,'' McCann says, "he's been the face of baseball since he broke in. If you are a baseball fan, you respect the guy. He's what baseball is all about.

"Do I wish I had longer to see it up close and personal? Yeah, but I'm happy for him.

"I got the chance to watch Chipper's farewell tour and I get to see this up close and personal. It's a great experience. I went through it with one Hall of Famer and I am going to go through it with another Hall of Famer so I'm excited.''

Yet, he pleads, it's time to stop talking about the idea that he is the next face of the Yankees.

"I haven't even played a game,'' McCann says. "I haven't even put the uniform on yet. That word gets thrown around a little bit too much for me.

"No one is going to replace that guy.

"You just play the game, and whatever happens, happens.''

It's no different for David Robertson, the man who replaces Rivera as closer. He's not Rivera. He'll never be Rivera.

And, as soon as folks realize it, life will be ok, knowing that it's actually normal for closers to blow saves now and again.

"I know I can do it,'' he says, "it's just a matter of stepping on the mound and doing it. It's the same thing. It doesn't matter if you throw in the eighth inning or the ninth inning. You still have to get three outs. You can't give up the lead.

"I'm sure as soon as I blow one, Mo will be calling me.''

If the Yankees are going to return to the playoffs after a one-year absence, if they're going to send Jeter out as a champion, Robertson realizes he'll have to be able to close out games.

And so many other things have to go right, as well.

Can Jeter stay healthy? Will Tanaka be a front-line starter? Can Kelly Johnson really replace A-Rod at third base?

Yet, in the eyes of Sabathia, who has lost 40 pounds the last two years, so much falls on his shoulders.

"(Last year) sticks with me a lot,'' Sabathia said of his 14-13, 4.78 ERA season, "being disappointed and not being able to help this team win. I feel like if I could have been a little better, we might have made the playoffs.

"I blamed myself for a long time in the offseason. Now, I'm over it and I'm ready to go this year.

"I'm pretty confident in my ability. I'm coming in this year, feeling good and ready to go.''

The Yankees, featuring $500 million of new players, with a new All-Star catcher, virtually entirely new outfield, remodeled infield, and overhauled rotation, we'll find out if it will translate into greatness